Clarify product version, order purpose and buyer requirements.
Service
Pre-shipment inspection in China before balance payment
UYiwu supports pre-shipment inspection in China before balance payment and shipment so B2B buyers do not discover problems only after the cargo arrives.
Service scope
What this service helps you control
Compare suppliers by price, MOQ, communication and production fit.
Coordinate samples, verification, production follow-up and QC when needed.
Connect sourcing work with consolidation, export preparation and shipment support.
Buyer problem
Why this service needs control
Many problems become expensive after shipment. Wrong quantity, mixed models, poor packaging, damaged cartons, incorrect labels, missing accessories or visible product defects are much harder to fix after the goods leave China.
!A supplier may say the goods are ready, but “ready” does not always mean the order matches the approved sample, buyer specification, marketplace label, packaging instruction or carton marking requirement.
!Supplier photos are not the same as an independent buyer-side check. Photos may show only good units, skip problem cartons, avoid bad angles or hide issues that become visible only during inspection.
!If the balance is paid before checking the goods, the buyer has less leverage to request sorting, rework, replacement, discount, delayed shipment or a follow-up inspection.
!Inspection is especially important when the order has private label packaging, multiple SKUs, strict color or size requirements, marketplace labels, seasonal delivery deadlines or high replacement cost.
!Without a clear inspection scope, the supplier and buyer may disagree about what should be checked. Approved samples, specifications, packaging rules and defect standards make pre-shipment inspection much stronger.
Process
How we handle the work in China
1
We clarify the inspection scope
We clarify the inspection scope: product, quantity, order details, approved sample, specifications, packaging, labels, carton marks, SKU list, defect concerns and special risk points.
2
We confirm where the goods are located
We confirm where the goods are located, whether the order is ready for inspection, and whether inspection should happen before balance payment, before warehouse pickup or before container loading.
3
We review the available order reference
We review the available order reference: PI, packing list, approved sample photos, product specification, packaging file, label requirements, carton marks and buyer-provided QC focus.
4
We check visible product condition
We check visible product condition, quantity logic, model/color/SKU mix, packaging, labeling, carton condition, accessories and supplier-provided documents where relevant to the agreed scope.
5
We compare goods with approved sample
We compare goods with approved sample, buyer photos, technical specification, packaging requirement or marketplace requirement where available and practical.
6
We record findings with photos
We record findings with photos, videos, notes and defect examples so the buyer can make a decision based on evidence rather than supplier promises.
Deliverables
What the buyer receives
- ✓Inspection report or structured summary with photos, videos, notes and practical comments based on the agreed inspection scope.
- ✓Quantity, model, color, SKU, packaging and labeling checks according to buyer-provided order details and inspection focus.
- ✓Visible defect examples with photos and practical severity comments so the buyer can understand what was found and where.
- ✓Comparison notes against approved sample, buyer photos, specification, packaging requirement or marketplace label requirements where provided.
- ✓Carton, packing, label, barcode, shipping mark and basic export-readiness observations when these points are included in the inspection scope.
- ✓Issue list with recommended next steps before balance payment, warehouse pickup, container loading or shipment release.
- ✓Coordination bridge between supplier, buyer, warehouse, forwarder and next QC/shipping steps when the inspection result affects shipment timing.
- ✓Public-safe handling of order and supplier information. Private supplier contacts, WeChat IDs, phone numbers, payment details and restricted notes are not exposed publicly.
Limits and trust
What we control and what must be checked
Pre-shipment inspection reduces risk, but it is not the same as 100% sorting unless full-piece inspection is agreed separately.
iVisual QC does not replace laboratory testing, engineering certification, chemical testing, electrical safety testing, medical compliance review or specialist inspection for high-risk products.
iUYiwu works on the buyer’s side in China and reports what is actually seen during the agreed inspection scope, not what the supplier wants the buyer to believe.
iThe best inspection starts before production. Clear specification, approved sample, packaging rules, label files and defect standards make final QC much stronger.
iInspection results support the buyer’s decision, but they do not remove all business risk. The buyer decides whether to release balance payment, request rework, delay shipment or accept the goods.
iSome problems require supplier negotiation, rework, sorting, replacement or follow-up inspection. UYiwu can help coordinate evidence and next steps, but cannot honestly guarantee zero defects unless every unit is checked under a defined full-inspection process.
iBasic warehouse receiving checks are not the same as detailed product inspection. Receiving can confirm arrival, visible carton condition, labels and agreed basic points, while detailed inspection follows a separately defined inspection scope.
Inspection scope
Receiving checks and detailed inspection are different
Basic warehouse receiving can confirm arrival, visible carton condition, labels and agreed receiving points. Detailed product inspection is a separate scope with defined product checks, sampling or unit-count method, defect criteria and evidence requirements.
Inspection cost
Detailed inspection is priced by the actual scope
The current working reference is from USD 250 per inspector-day. Travel, laboratory testing, re-inspection, full unit-by-unit checks, special equipment and other third-party requirements may be additional depending on the product, location and inspection plan.
Certificates and compliance
Documents can be reviewed, but they are not an automatic compliance guarantee
Supplier certificates and documents can be requested and reviewed before shipment. Supplier-provided PDFs alone do not prove unconditional compliance for every destination market; laboratory testing or specialist compliance review may be required for regulated or higher-risk products.
FAQ
Common questions
Is pre-shipment inspection a 100% check of all goods?
Not by default. Standard inspection checks agreed samples, cartons, quantities and visible issues according to the inspection scope. Full sorting or 100% piece-by-piece inspection must be agreed separately.
When should the inspection be done?
Ideally before balance payment and before loading. This gives the buyer more leverage to request rework, sorting, replacement, discount, shipment delay or follow-up inspection.
Is warehouse receiving the same as detailed inspection?
No. Warehouse receiving can confirm arrival, visible carton condition, labels and agreed basic receiving points. Detailed product inspection is a separate scope with defined checks, defect criteria and inspection evidence.
How much does detailed inspection cost?
The current working reference is from USD 250 per inspector-day. Travel, laboratory testing, re-inspection, full unit-by-unit checking, special equipment and other third-party requirements may be additional depending on the inspection scope.
Can you check supplier certificates and compliance documents?
Yes, supplier certificates and documents can be requested and reviewed. However, supplier-provided PDFs alone do not create an unconditional compliance guarantee. Laboratory testing or specialist review may be required for regulated or higher-risk products.
Can inspection guarantee that there will be no defects?
No. Inspection reduces risk and gives evidence before payment or shipment, but it cannot honestly guarantee zero defects unless every unit is checked under a strict full-inspection scope.